Lyndhurst Infant School

Beach Schools

Lyndhurst Infant School is a Beach School!

We are fortunate to have the beach in such close proximity to our school and are able to make use of it regularly as a fantastic learning resource for our children. Beach School has a holistic, first hand experience approach to learning and we use the beach environment right here in Worthing to take the curriculum outside.

This method of learning helps the children become aware of the coastal environment and develop a greater awareness of marine life and plants, along with a better understanding of beach safety.

Beach School provides all our explorers with the opportunity to grow and develop self esteem, creativity and confidence through exploration and learning in a natural marine environment.

What do we do?

Each year team go to the beach at least twice a year, at different times. They take part in many different activities; play games, create sculptures, build shelters and discover marine life. The outdoor environment stimulates their physical health and emotional and spiritual well being.

We are actively involved in supporting the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) beach clean and intend to participate once again during 2019. Some Year 2 children participated in a MCS Beachwatch workshop and cleared a section of Worthing Beach. The results of their findings can be found further down this page.

The MCIS litter survey results for 2016 have been released and have shown a very slight decrease in the rubbish picked up from our coastlines. 268,384 individual pieces of rubbish were collected from 364 beaches in just one weekend! The number of plastic bags collected was almost half the number of those found in 2015 - possibly reflecting the new 5p charge at the checkout. However there was a huge rise of over 50% in balloon related litter and a 4% rise in drinks containers, lids and caps that were collected.

Plastic can be fatal for wildlife as small pieces are mistaken as food and eaten by seabirds, dolphins and fish. There was also an increase in the volume of wet wipes still being flushed down toilets. These are slow to degrade and are increasingly being washed up. Plastic bags create similar problems and tiny degrading plastic bag particles may be taken up by Zooplankton, which are the juvenile forms of sea creatures such as crabs & shellfish.

At Lyndhurst Infant School we encourage the children to look after the oceans and to be responsible for taking their own rubbish home.

Beach Trips

We are currently planning beach trips for this 2nd half of the Autumn term with some small groups of Year 2 children who will explore the wintry beach environment and consider the differences and similarities of a winter and summer coastline, and the creatures that can be found there.

Last year, we had the most amazing weather in the Summer term with hot air temperatures and lots of sunshine. Our Reception children visited the Beach in small groups during June and July where they had the opportunity to explore the rock pool environment and discover the life living within them.

Small groups from Year 1 explored the winter beach during November and December and thought about the adaptations that the creatures who live in rock pools have to help them survive in the harsh environment. They used what they had discovered to design a creature complete with it's own adaptations and explained how the features they had added were suited to rock pool life. This has supported the children's knowledge and understanding of a beach environment; linking life underwater to the shoreline ecology.

Year 2 visited and explored the beach and rock pools during September as a year group. They explored under the rocks to see what they could discover and carefully replaced them when they had finished to ensure that nothing would be hurt or damaged.

We are very lucky that we were able to enjoy Beach School during the colder months of the year in our exciting outdoor learning area and classroom.

Parents and carers will be informed of any upcoming beach trips for their children as we progress through the school year.

World Ocean Day 8th June 2018!

We were very lucky this year to receive a visit from the RNLI, Sea Shepherd UK and the Marine Conservation Society on World Ocean Day at Lyndhurst and together raised over £360.00 with a summer MUFTI day to share between the three charities.

The RNLI is a charity that saves lives at sea by providing lifeboats, seasonal lifeguards, flood rescue response and water safety education. Year 2 enjoyed a water safety presentation and had the opportunity to try on the special clothes and equipment used by RNLI boat crews.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK's leading charity for the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. Reception classes took part in 'Beside the Seaside' workshops with Kate from MCS. They learnt about the creatures who live in rock pools and participated in a 'rock pool exploration' to spot and identify them.

Sea Shepherd UK is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organisation. Their mission is 'to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the wold's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.' Tina from Sea Shepherd UK talked to us about the issue of plastic in our oceans and showed us some images of the affect it has on marine creatures and their environment.

Beachwatch Beach Clean June 2018

Some Year 2 children participated in 'Beachwatch' with the Marine Conservation Society at the end of June. They held their own 'Beach Clean' and litter survey over two sections of the beach and recorded the different types of litter they found. They were quite shocked at the amount of rubbish in such a small area, particularly the number of pieces of plastic and rubber, and thought about ways they could encourage others to dispose of their rubbish carefully. Here is a summary of what we found!

Evaluations and Case Studies

Undersea Explorer

With the turning back of the clocks we know that Winter is on it's way, with dropping temperatures, gusty winds and darker evenings, but even though air temperatures have dropped the sea itself is 15 degrees Celsius; often warmer than the air temperature at this time of year. The rock pools along the coast of Worthing are experiencing cold temperatures and fierce tidal surges, becoming an even harsher environment for the marine life that live there. Seagulls are seen investigating the rocks and splashline at this time of the year on the lookout for something tasty to eat!

Year 1 discovered there were fewer marine creatures when they explored the low tide zone during November and December. However, the storms, currents and high tides have left wide lines of seaweed along the strandline containing lots of wonderful marine objects to be discovered and explored. The best time to explore the rock pools is at low tide which happens twice a day. When the tide goes out seawater is trapped and the creatures that live in it are left stranded in the dips and channels between the rocks. You could take a net to help you explore and maybe a plastic container to investigate what you have found more closely. Remember to return your findings back to the rock pools when you have finished and put any rocks you have lifted up back down gently.

What will you discover in the rockpools?

It's a great area to explore as many exciting objects that are usually hidden underwater can be found there!